Alleged Rape Victim's identity indirectly revealed - Shame on the concerned TV Channel!
Today, as I was watching the news on one of the English News Channels, I came across a news item which spoke about a politician having allegedly raped a minor girl, and to cover it up, accused her of being a thief and got her arrested.
Till this point, I did not have too many major objections. What followed was totally shocking. To the best of my knowledge, the law as well as common courtesy maintains that the media must not identify an alleged rape victim directly or indirectly. Especially if the victim happens to be a minor, as in this case. In a blatant violation of this basic norm, the Channel went on to show the face of the alleged victim's father, along with some sound bites from him!
I'm sure that the entire world, including the neighbours, friends, colleagues, relatives, etc. of the alleged victim would now be totally aware about who the alleged victim is. In our male dominated society, especially among those from poor, rural, Dalit backgrounds, one can imagine the kind of taunting and ostracizing that can follow after viewing the scenes on TV.
I wonder how people claiming to be bothering about values can be so cruel.
Will one or more of the following take note and take necessary action:
- Value-based advocates who are often happy to file a PIL for all and sundry causes
- Competing TV channels
- Women's rights groups
- Judiciary, on a suo motu basis
- Police officials - Especially if this involves the violation of any specific law
- Political parties
Interestingly, the very same TV channel which I'm accusing of having been insensitive to the alleged victim went on to spend at least 45 minutes of Prime time discussing the closure of the Arushi murder case by the CBI, where one of the main focus points was about how the servants of Arushi's household were ill-treated by the investigators!
Regards,
N
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